Construction industry news : Canadian construction company Graham Contracting has been selected as contractor by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for the State Route 520 Montlake Project (SR 520 Montlake Project).

According to WSDOT, Graham Contracting turned out to be the best-value proposal bidder for the construction of the Washington highway, with a bid of $455.3 million. This was the lowest of the three bids that WSDOT received for the construction of the SR 520 Montlake Project, although it was above the agency’s cost range of $375-$425 million.

Graham Contracting managed to outbid Atkinson/Traylor JV and Kiewit Manson, the other two contenders for the design-build contract, which is a combination of project design and construction of the SR 520 Montlake Project.

WSDOT is set to give the design-build contract of the SR 520 Montlake Project to Graham Contracting. Photo courtesy of ronneeey/Freeimages.com

WSDOT said that the winning proposal from the Canadian construction company commits to finish the SR 520 Montlake Project earlier than the agency’s projected target. Further, Graham Contracting also pledged to keep a check on the impact caused by the Washington highway project on environment and community.

In the coming months, WSDOT will look to award and execute the design-build contract, based on final review and proposal acceptance. Construction on the Washington highway project is likely to commence in early 2019 and slated to be wrapped up in early 2023.

Under the contract, Graham Contracting will be responsible for the construction of a new Montlake interchange, a landslide lid over SR520, a bicycle/pedestrian “land bridge” east of the lid, linking the Arboretum to East Montlake Park and a West Approach Bridge South for eastbound traffic, which will be identical to the recently inaugurated West Approach Bridge North.

Commenting on the SR 520 Montlake Project contract, Omar Jepperson – SR 520 Program Deputy Administrator, said: “We know that costs have continued to escalate in this booming Puget Sound economy. Graham’s proposal combines a high technical score with the lowest cost, and we look forward to working with them. When complete, the new Montlake interchange and lid will be a community hub with multimodal transportation options for all. The new project will provide greater safety and reliability for drivers, transit riders, bicyclists and pedestrians.”

The SR 520 Montlake Project is the first of four SR 520 projects of the Rest of the West Improvements.